Ladder.



No. 7o9,na. Patented Sept; 16, I902.

C. B. SMITH.

LADDER.

(Application filed Oct. 2, 1,901.

(No Model.)

TN; npmus mu m. Manama. ammo-Ion. n. c.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

CLAYTEN B. SMITH, OF FORESTVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,118, datedSeptember 16, 1902. Application filed October 2. 1901. Serial No.77,836. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAYTEN B. SMITH,a citizen of the United States,residing at Forestville, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLadders; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to ladders, and has for its objecttoproduce a ladder which while being extremely light and easily moved willat the same time possess great strength and one which can be cheaply andquickly made.

A further object is to produce a ladder so constructed and arranged thatone or more such ladders may be quickly coupled together to produce aladder of any length desired.

To the above ends the present invention consists of the improved ladderwhich will now be described, and pointed out in the claims appendedhereto.

The present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 shows an end view of a ladder embodying the same, showinga planView of one of the treads or rungs. Fig. 2 shows a front View of aportion of the ladder, illustrating in dotted lines the method ofcoupling two ladders.

Similarletters ofreference will be employed throughout the specificationand drawings to designate corresponding parts.

The ladder consists of the side rails a and the treads or rungs b. Theside rails a, are constructed of some suitable sheet metal, preferablysheet-steel, and of any desired or suitable length, being formed bysuitable dies or rolls, and comprise a medial portion 0, the edges ofwhich are rolled over to form the stiffening-ribs cl. The ribs d, asidefrom stiffsuing the side rails a, form rounded grasping portions whichare grasped by the hands when moving the ladder and also, as will behereinafter noted, the very important function of enabling two or moresuch ladders to be coupled together. The ribs d are substantiallycylindrical in cross-section, as clearly shown, and it is intended thatthe opposite ends of a ladder shall be of such relative sizes as to bereadily coupled to the adjacent ends of other similar ladders. This maybe conveniently accomplished, as in the device of the drawings, byproviding the side rails a at one end with the substantiallytroughshaped coupling-sockets e, struck up from sheet metal and rivetedor otherwise secured to the outer face of the side rails and extendingsome distance beyond the ends thereof, thus providing sockets f, intowhich the ends of the side rails of an adjacent ladder may be fitted, asshownin dotted lines, and thus produce a ladder of any desired lengthwithin certain limitations.

The rungs b may be formed in any'suitable manner and of any desiredmaterial and may be of any desired shape in cross-section and fastenedto the side rails a in a manner best suited to produce the desiredstrength and rigidity. The form of rungs shown in the drawings has beenfound to givegood results when a broad tread is desired, and consists ofwooden boards I) of a width corresponding to the distance between therounded ribs d, through which are passed bolts 0r rods g, the endsofwhich pass through apertures in the side rails a and are threaded toreceive the nuts h, which are set up tightly against the outer surfaceof the side rails a.

It will be noted that I have produced a light, strong, and durableladder and one which can be made at slight expense.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protect byLetters Patent of the United States 1. A ladder having in combination,side rails composed of sheet metal the edges of which are bent inward toform tubular cylindrical ribs, rungs and means for securing the same tothe side rails, substantially as described.

2. A ladder having in combination, side rails the edges of which arebent inward to form tubular ribs, rungs fitting snugly be- 2 roams tweenthe beads of the respective side rails I at one end of the rails,substantially as deand means for rigidly securing them to said scribed.IO rails, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I afiix mysignature A ladder having in combination, metal in the presence of twowitnesses. side rails the edges of which are bentinward CLAYTEN B.SMITH. to form tubular cylindrical ribs, rungs fitting Witnesses: snuglybetween said ribs, means for securing FREDERICK M. PEASLEY,

the rungs t0 the rails and coupling-sockets CHARLES SOHMID.

